Ans) Biodiversity – The term biodiversity is used to describe various species of living beings present on Earth. It refers to every living thing, including plants, animals, microorganisms, and humans.

Human obtains various essential things from biodiversity that maintain his existence on Earth. Thus biodiversity is very essential for human life.

Ans) The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats. An all-India list of protected species was also published. The thrust of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.

Ans) In India, forests are classified under the following categories:-

1. Reserved Forests – Follow Que No. 1 (very short)
2. Protected Forests – Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest, as declared by the Forest Department. This forest land is protected from any further depletion.
3. Unclassed Forests – These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.

Ans) Forests and the environment are closely related to each other. It can be clear from the following statements:-

1. Forests keep the atmosphere pure and reduce air pollution.
2. ) Forests provide oxygen to the atmosphere.
3. Forests maintain the temperature of the air that leads to rainfall.
4. Forests equalise the climate.
5. Forests prevent the water flows, which stops the land erosion and increases the level of underground water.

Ans) Humans and other living organisms form a complex web of an ecological system, in which we humans are only a part and very much dependent on its various elements for our own existence. For example, the plants, animals, and micro-organisms recreate the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that produces our food, without which we cannot survive. Forests play a key role in the ecological system as they are also the primary producers on which all other living beings depend.

Ans) Follow Que No. 3(short types)

Distribution – Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests, constituting 75 percent of its total forest area. Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have large percentages of reserved forests of their total forest area, whereas Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan have a bulk of it under protected forests. All North-Eastern states and parts of Gujarat have very high percentages of their forests as unclassed forests managed by local communities.

Ans) Human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna in the following ways:-

1. Humans cleared forests for their living. The indiscriminate cutting of forests leads to biological loss.
2. Plant diversity is being finished due to continuous loss of forest and in place of special crops were grown by humans.
3. Many species of flora and fauna have become extinct due to air and water pollution, because polluted air and water does not provide them favourable life.
4. Humans are carnivores because they eat not only vegetables but also animal products as food. Many species of birds and animals have become extinct due to continuous hunting by human and some are endangered.
5. Rapid increasing of our population, often considered as an alternative of destruction. We are using the rare sources of the world at a rapid pace to harm the environment in many ways. As our population grew, the fertile land and forests have shrunk. The natural resources are also exploited at a rapid pace to meet the needs of fast growing population.

Ans)

1. The forest and tree cover in the country is estimated at 79-42 million hectares.
2. It is 24-16 per cent of the total geographical area.
3. It includes dense forest 12-2 per cent, open forest 9-14 per cent and mangrove forest 0-14 per cent.
4. According to the State of Forest Report (2015), the dense forest cover has increased by 3-775 sq. km. since 2013.
5. This apparent increase is due to conservation measures, management interventions and plantation.

Ans) Major examples of tiger conservation projects in India are:-

State	Project
Uttarakhand	Corbett, National Park
Madhya Pradesh	Bandhavgarh, National Park
Rajasthan	Sarikska Wildlife Sanctuary
West Bengal	Sundarban, National Park
Kerela	Periyar Tiger Reserve
Assam	Manas Tiger Reserve